Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) > Reports & Expeditions

Shoalwater Bay 7/2/09 - 15/2/09

(1/5) > >>

Scott Maybury:
Hey guys,

I was lucky enough to fish Shoalwater Bay/Capricorn Islands area with Nomad last week. The trip was almost cancelled due to bad weather (as the week's before had been) but instead it was pushed back 2 days.

The fishing was slow for a lot of the week, partly due to bad weather and not being able to fish, or fish effectively, where we wanted, and partly due to the fact that the fish were there but not feeding aggressively.

In the 6 days we had 5 guys fishing for GT's pretty seriously (ie, most of the time) and we would have raised in excess of 60 fish. However, a lot of these were only follows with no strikes, or half hearted strikes more behind the popper than on it. We did end up landing 9 proper GT's with the best going 30kg or just over and the smallest probably around 17 or 18kgs.

I also landed a 7kg GT on a soft plastic and light tackle and some in the 2-3kg range on this gear. The 7kg fish in particular was a lot of fun.

I got one proper GT for the trip, my first, at aroudn 25kg. I was stoked, but disappointed I lost 3 other fish I came up tight on, at least 2 of which were substantially bigger than the one I landed. One of them snapped my 100lb braid virtually on impact. Tim (the head guide) called it for in excess of 40kg.

All in all it was an awesome week. Professional but relaxed guides, great all round service and great food. I will be back for one of their other trips either late this year or early next. I am tossing up between doggies at Diamond Islets or GTs at Bugatti...the budget may be the ultimate decider as I also am hoping to do a trip to Fiji in January!

Here are some pics of the GT's and a few other fish taken on light tackle.

Scott Maybury:
Also I should say one of the coolest parts of the trip was that I went alone and got to fish with some really cool guys, including 2 other forum members Neale Bird (aka Birdy) who is clutching a GT in the 6th photo from the top, and John Campbell (aka...John) in the first 5

We all got proper GT's, John 3, Neale 2 me 1

Neale Bird:
Here here for good company  ;D

Sweet Scott, tanks for posting that up i've been having trouble posting it... could you possibly post my smaller GT too please?

Andre van Wyk:
Awesome pics Scott, and great report.... obviously not perfct conditions, but you guys certainly made the most of it and looks like you ahd an awesome with some fantastic fish....

Love the 4th shot down... epic!!

Thanks for the great report!

Scott Maybury:
Hey Neale, I thought I had put all the proper GT's up but yeah I am missing one of yours and one of Robs I think, I will check the photos at home tonight and add those. Sorry bro!

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page